Compare towns
Putney vs Ripton vs Dover vs Underhill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Putney | Ripton | Dover | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
508Lowest |
1,466 |
3,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
| Dover and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
| Ripton and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Underhill and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— | $670±$49Highest 46% below VT |
— |
| Dover and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 min 6% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.